Hello Family and Friends!
I am so excited to be writing this blog post and even more excited that you are reading it.
After traveling to Guatemala on my first international mission trip in the summer of 2016, I was so earnest to continue traveling and do missions around the world. I have always loved adventure, being outside, and gathering new experiences. Soon after I returned to the US, I started looking for trips for the next year. As soon as I read the ministry bio for the India trip, I knew that’s where the Lord wanted me to go next. So, I began planning. I applied, was accepted, and began fundraising. I was very ahead of the game that year. I had all of my support raised well before my deadlines (something that’s a little different for me this go round) and the only thing left to do was to wait for launch.
When launch finally arrived and had spent 4 days with my team in Gainesville, Ga., I was beyond excited and nervous for the month ahead. When we got to our destination, we were greeted so warmly by the people there. The seminary students, staff, and residents of the town were so welcoming and loving to us. They told us time and time again how encouraging our coming to them was. My team and I grew very close and talked about life before the trip and what we hope for life after the trip. It was a month of growth and relying on Jesus in the midst of trials. All throughout the month I knew I would one day return. I cried and cried the day we had to leave, but knew that wasn’t the last I would see of the people there.
After returning to the US again, I immediately tried to make things happen for the next year. It was to my surprise when I failed a class in the fall of 2017 and knew this would push back my next trip to India. Rightfully so, my dad advised me to take summer courses to catch up on classes because I not only failed a class, but changed my major and had some catching up to do in that area if I wanted to graduate on time. I was devastated to tell my friends back in India that it would be even longer before getting to come back.
Time came and went and I spent my summer 2018 taking 12 credit hours and babysitting. My adventurous self felt out of touch and the summer was pretty mundane to say the least. Most of my friends were working at camps or going on mission trips. I was in Statesboro, GA. taking classes and doing what felt unproductive. I am thankful for this past summer, though. I did catch up on classes, boosted my GPA, and learned that we must pursue the Lord in the midst of seasons that feel unproductive, mundane, dry, and lonely. The Lord definitely used this past summer to strip away the idolatry I held towards adventure and traveling.
I had almost given up on the India dream I had since leaving. It was to my surprise when the Lord spoke to me and said it was time to go back. I wrestled with this for a while because I then thought I should do an internship or volunteer at a social services agency, or other things that would go towards my major and college credit, but the Lord kept leading. He told me to look to Him, not my feelings and emotions. He told me to follow where He leads, no matter where that was. He told me to go, which is something I always tell myself: go where the Lord calls you.
Going can look a lot of different ways. It can look like traveling domestically or internationally. Sometimes the Lord calls us to stay, which is what He did with me in the summer of 2018. Now, He is calling me to go to the land that He has shown me. He has called me to return to India.
Of course, I have to raise support for this trip. I need $4,600 to be fully funded. So far, I have almost raised 25%. 50% of my full support has to be raised by May 2, which is only a month away! If you would like to partner with me financially, click the “Donate!” tab to the left of this page. If not, be praying for my team and I as we embark on this journey! Thank you again for reading. Cannot wait to be writing to you soon. If you would like to receive these blog posts as emails, you can subscribe to this blog! This is also to the left of this page. Thank you.
